Legendary Jacques Botes’s final home game at King’s Park is sure to be a defining affair for the Sharks in tonight’s crucial Currie Cup clash against the Lions.
With just two rounds remaining in the pool stages, the Sharks are set to face their greatest challenges of the season as they first take on the in-form Lions and then the log-leading Western Province.
While recent back-to-back wins have enabled the third-placed Sharks to open up a bit of breathing room between themselves and the chasing pack, the Pumas, Cheetahs and Bulls will have not given up hope of sneaking into the play-offs.
One win out of the next two matches would be enough for the Sharks to secure their play-off place, though, and they would dearly love to make sure of that tonight.
Yet whichever way you look at it, the top two log spots appear to be sewn up by Western Province and the Lions, and so this week the Sharks have been imploring their fans to turn up for what is likely to be their final home game.
It will also present one last opportunity for the King’s Park faithful to pay tribute to Botes, the most capped Sharks and Currie Cup player in history, who will be retiring at the end of this campaign.
After 10 years at the Sharks, during which time he earned 126 Currie Cup caps and made 114 Super Rugby appearances, Botes is most deserving of a successful swansong.
“It has been a very special campaign, knowing that this is going to be the last one,” the 33-year-old commented. “I’ve treasured every last minute on the field and it’s something I will cherish forever. I want to make sure I take it all in, absorb it all and enjoy everything that comes with it.”
Coach Brad Macleod-Henderson said the team would be fired up as they looked to deliver a fitting King’s Park send-off for Botes.
“As a team man, I don’t think you will find anyone better in the world, and we will be going into potentially Jacques’s last game in Durban determined to make sure he gets a victory.”
However, it will be easier said than done against an in-form Lions side that boasts continuity, confidence, and plenty of all-round firepower.
“Up-front, at scrum-time, they are leading the pack there at the moment,” Botes acknowledged. “They’ve got a bruising forward pack, and I think they’ve got some nice continuity that they have built on from Super Rugby. The Lions have been the form side along with Western Province this season, and they have a nice blend between attacking play and real physicality up-front.”
Yet the Sharks have also shown some promising signs of resurgence in recent weeks, and have begun to settle on some highly effective combinations.
Most importantly, the coastal side have ensured that they remain in control of their own destiny at the business end of the competition, but they will also be keeping a close eye on other results this weekend.
Although lying in sixth place on the log, the Bulls should back themselves to move into the top four as they finish their pool commitments with clashes against the Pumas and Griquas.
However, if the Pumas can cause an upset when they hosts the Bulls in Nelspruit tonight, then there is every chance they could claim an impressive semi-final spot as they face the winless Kings next weekend.
And any chance the Cheetahs have of reviving their play-off bid will come down to their result against unbeaten Western Province in Bloemfontein tomorrow.
All in all, it’s sure to be an enthralling run-in to the knockout stage of the Currie Cup. - Daily News